September is National Preparedness Month- Keep Your Business Safe

 

September 2021 is National Preparedness Month. Disasters can take many forms and the financial cost of rebuilding after a disaster can be overwhelming. If you’re prepared for emergencies, you’ll be in a better position to recover and continue operations when a disaster strikes. During National Preparedness Month, take the important steps to keep your small business, employees and family safe when a disaster strikes.  Learn more   This week, Hurricane Ida made landfall, causing unprecedented damage. A disaster declaration has been issued for Louisiana and Mississippi. Small businesses and nonprofits in impacted areas can now apply for SBA disaster assistance. Contact the Customer Service Center for help with your application at 1-800-659-2955 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-877-8339) or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.  Apply for assistance SBA Awards $5.2 Million in PRIME Grants to Help Emerging Micro-Entrepreneurs Gain Access to Capital Grants Will Help 27 Organizations Provide Technical Assistance and Training Services SBA has awarded 27 organizations across the United States a total of $5.2 million under the Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME) grant awards. PRIME supports these nonprofit organizations as they help low-income entrepreneurs get financing to establish and expand their small businesses by providing direct technical assistance, or provide capacity-building training for other organizations that provide capital to underserved small businesses. The SBA placed special emphasis in this year’s competition on projects that will offer training and technical assistance to strengthen economically disadvantaged businesses, particularly those that service entrepreneurs in Opportunity Zones, rural areas, and HUBZones. Among this year’s 27 recipients, 15 provide services in Opportunity Zones and 12 provide services in HUBZones. Nearly 9,000 communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories have been designated as Opportunity Zones. Learn more   National Small Business Week is almost here! Earlier this week, the SBA announced the event schedule. There is still time to register for the National Small Business Week Virtual Summit, September 13 – September 15, to learn new business strategies, meet other business owners, and chat with industry experts. This free online event will include educational webinars, updates on resources for small businesses, and a networking chat room for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.  Register   Paycheck Protection Program borrowers: If your loan is $150,000 or less, you may be eligible to apply for direct forgiveness through SBA using our online portal. Follow the steps below. Find out if your lender is participating.  Watch a video about how to use the portal. Apply for forgiveness. For additional information, visit the SBA website. Looking for Small Business Statistics?  The SBA Office of Advocacy recently released the latest federal economic data into state-by-state snapshots of small business health and economic activity.   This year’s profiles focus on state small business dynamics and employment. They answer questions like:  How many small businesses are in my state?  How many people do small businesses employ?  How many jobs do they create?  How many establishments opened and closed?  What industries have the most small businesses?   What demographic groups own the most small businesses?  How much do small businesses export?  Learn more Getting It Right- Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities: Webcast Series for Health and Retirement Plan Sponsors September 9, 2021 | 2:00 pm ET Operating an employee benefit plan can be challenging, especially for small businesses who have limited time, resources and access to professional help with benefit programs. To help increase awareness and understanding about basic fiduciary responsibilities when operating a health or retirement benefit plan, the U.S. Department of Labor is presenting the Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities webcast series on September 9, 2021. Register Small Business Resources for the Military Community The SBA offers support for veterans as they enter the world of business ownership. Explore funding programs, training, federal contracting opportunities and more. Learn more   Thanks to vaccines, small businesses across America have opened back up. Keep the momentum going by getting vaccinated. Find a vaccine provider near you. Learn how businesses can get tax credits for allowing employees to get vaccinated.  Learn more